Leon-based SUV will come first, followed by a smaller crossover
Seat believes it can be the first of the Volkswagen Group brands to launch a proper Nissan Juke-rivalling small crossover, according to the brand’s boss.
The Spanish car maker has already committed to building a new Nissan Qashqai rival at its Barcelona plant from next year. It has also shown the 20V20 concept, which hints at a larger SUV model to sit at the top of the line-up.
However, Seat is also known to have put an Ibiza-based crossover through customer clinics, and chairman Jürgen Stackmann says such a car could beat Audi’s long-rumoured Q1 baby SUV and Volkswagen’s Polo-based Taigun to market.
“Nobody has told us we can’t be the first to bring the small crossover to showrooms,” said Stackmann. “Our car is much better than when we showed it to some people last year.
“We have an idea of when to bring this car, but we’re announcing it when everything is close, when the business case is sufficiently strong. And when the car itself is solid.
“The sequence is clear. Number one is mid-size. Focus number two is smaller, because that’s where the swing is in customer demand. Number three is our vision, like 20V20. But it all comes in phases.”
Stackmann also said the 20V20 is not yet confirmed for production. “We can build that car now — we have everything in our hands to do it — but the brand has to be strong enough to build that car and sell it in volumes and in revenues sufficient to make a good case. We’re not there yet with the larger car.”
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